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Thursday, February 5, 2009

I've heard from a few readers today (more like annoyed readers) who attempted to get into the Babolat-sponsored LIVE CHAT with Rafael Nadal and were unable to get through. Some even tried to stop by early and were told it was at capacity already.

Is there anyone out there who made it into the chat with the Mallorcan Matador? Let us know!

And for those of you who didn't (myself included), feel free to leave your uncensored thoughts in the comments section.

*still wearing very pissed-off face*

UPDATE: Click here for LIVE CHAT transcript in case you missed it (and no doubt most of you did. Boo.)

UPDATE #2: Thanks to Meri again for sending over Part 2 of the the Matador shooting a TV ad most likely for Banesto. We get suited up Rafa, casual clad in jeans Rafa, and I'm-about-to-bust-out-laughing-I-swear Rafa. CHECK IT -

I got through eventually! I can post a transcript if you'd like, but it really wasn't very interesting. Didn't even sound like Rafa was really answering and there were not really 'live photos' or video (just about 5 ever repeating pictures of him laughing).

The questions were terrible. They've all been asked before. The only new thing I found out was that he likes Dragon Ball (looool) and carries the DVDs around with him.

I'm reading the chat and for those who didn't get in you don't worry he answered the same questions he always gets favorite food, what he does on his free time, rackets, practice time and a lot I love you Rafa. The only interesting thing is that he likes Dragonball and the cute live camera shots. So if you had any dirty questions he wasn't even going to get it there was a moderator. The chat was really crap.

the whole thing was real disappointment. 90% people couldn't get in. once who got in after 40 min of clicking "refresh" button couldn't ask question. question were lame, waste of time for both, the fans and Rafa (if he even was there)

Commiserations all, even those who got in!! Rafa is just waaaaaay too popular and Babolat should have known their server would crash unless they upped the anty significantly. Oh well. It's still fun to read thru the q's, even tho most are stuff I totally already know!! Maybe us Rafanatics should publish a book "Things We Already Know About Rafa and The Things We Want to Know About Rafa." Who wants to help me?? :)

It has got to be so annoying for Rafa (even with as nice and as gracious as he is) that he has to explain himself over and over again. If I have to hear one more time that he didn't have any idols growing up or that he probably would have been a football player if he wasn't a tennis player, I am going to punch somebody in the face.

Back to Rafa. First and foremost, THANK YOU, Rich and Meri for the goodies. natch likey. *smacks lips*The only thing about the transcript I like was the chick who said, "My mom and I like watching you." Yeah, I know why your mom does, little girl.On to the vid. Whoever got to run his or her(I couldn't tell) fingers through his hair? Probably orgasmed on the spot.

I really wanted to get on and ask if he'd consider posing for a gay mag, like Feli Lopez did recently. Tragically, no joy, and I couldn't even log on. All the questions he got asked are so generic, it seems like the Babolat moderator let only the mildest and least exciting ones through. BOO.

*raises hand*Oh! OH! I volunteer to be Rafa's new PR chick. All questions below the waist welcome. All "favorite _______" questions will be banished for life. In between my duties, I will pass on photos, phone numbers, and take photos of us, I mean him, showering.

Thanks all for the good wishes! This site (and let's be honest, all Rafasites) have helped me take my mind off other matters, so please keep up the great posts Rich, and the hilarious commentary, Rafanatics. You guys are the best!

natch: An evening with Rafathoughts does more than just soothe me, let me tell you ;)

b2012: We're totally on the same page. Rafa has blogged for the Times before, I know he likes shrimp and fish and cookies & cream ice cream. What I DON'T know is his favorite position...let's go, people! Get with the program!

RiCH: I'm sure Benito also wanted to make sure there was plenty of time for non-questions as well. Such as "Thanks for answering my question, Rafa!" LOL Now I just sound bitter. Whatever you love it! ;)

Guys chat worked fine to me...First it said the chat is overloaded, then i just refreshed the window and it worked great... I think Rafa was answering Q himself, he wasn't typing it tho too good for his English... it must have been Benito again. And yey all the same Q and several boring must-answer Babolat questions. Btw wot was that comment by moderator "check ur mails u will receive sth from babolat soon?"

Babolat obviously couldn't cope with the demand and IMHO they should have done the LiveChat in Spanish if they wanted to get interesting original questions. It never ceases to amaze me how banal and trivial the questions put by English speakers on his Times Online blog/Q&A site are compared to the lengthy interesting ones Spanish readers ask him about his tennis, life and opinions at the parallel ELMUNDO blog/Q&A site. :)

manfred: Questions in English = questions from around the globe! It doesn't matter how well the person asking speaks/writes English, if they can manage to put some words together, they'll do it! There are ridiculous amounts of grammar errors and weird putting of words together and it's obvious to me that person does not speak English very well, but they can get through to Rafa this way. So it does not surprise me in the least that any Spanish interviews are going to be 10 times more interesting. It's just the nature of the beast.